Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-10-20
Growers HippodrOme al Madison.

UNUSUALLY ldNOiSO Win dtttdCllOuS uuf-
ing the last week, which have thronged
her streets with visitors. First was the
great Interstate Fair with its manifold
attractions, ranging from mammoth
pumpkins to 2:30 races; and next was
the grand Lamont and Villas Hippo
drome Combination, the principal fea-
ture of which was the last survivor of
the nearly extinct race of Democratic
presidents. This grand combination
had been billed for three-days' exhi-
bition in this CITY for weeks in advance,
and one of the proprietors had preceded
it to superintend the arrangements; and
never was city of the same size more
deliberately decorated than was Madison
on this occasion. The capital park was
out in its best holiday dress, with every
gate hung with festoons of evergreens.
draped with the national colors aud
labeled with appropriate notices.
Over the streets at each corner of the
park were erected beautiful arches
tastefully decorated. the main one be-
ing so constructed as TO hold bevy of
lovely girls representing the different
states. On this were arranged life
sized portraits of Washington, Lincoln
and Cleveland. the latter in the center.
strongly suggesting a dime novel with
in gilded covers. Suffice it to say, that
in the decoration of the city $4,000
yards OF cloth, 10000 Chinese lanterns
and innumerable flags were used-the
latter all being the stars and stripes,
as they did not wish to offend the Presi-
dent by displaying Confederate flags
after he had ordered them returned to
the states from which they were cap
tured.
TO welcome the grand combination,
people of all ages, sexes and conditions
had gathered from far and near-from
the common, calico-clad country cow
mixer, TO the buxom, hustled beauty
who has graduated from the Normal
or University, and can chew gum IN
four languages; from the adolescent
Democrat, whose nose shows the first
premonitory symptoms of his party
affiliations in faint blush, like that
which overspreads the cheek of inno-
cent maidenhood, to the old dyed-in-the-
wool moss-back, whose nose is sug-
gestive of peeled blood beet. Still. il
was far from being distinctive Demo-
cratic crowd, as tests taken on incom-
ing trains showed preponderauce of
Republicans, who had never seen o
Democratic President and never expect
cd to have an opportunity to see
another. Here. too, was the fine haired
Mugwump, whose conscious sense of
superior honor precludes his uniting
with any party, for fear of contamina-
ton. Here, too, were Prohibitionists,
arrogating to themselves the honor of
having elected a President whose JEFF
fersonian simplicity is exhibited in the
terse expression which will pass into
history with the classic expressions of
great men: Whisky is good enough
for me- Here, too, were representa-
tives Of the great Labor party, whose
motto is. "Our children cry for bread"
and whose yearly expenditure for
liquor and cigars is in excess of the
wages paid the average farm laborer.
And here, also is large representation
of the Anti-Poverty party putting their
principles into active practice by trans
ferring the pocketbooks of the "bloated
bond-holders" to their own virtuous
pockets.
Through this vast assemblage the
gilded pageant passed around the park
and halted on the capital steps, where
the President made his cyclopedic re-
spouse to the address of welcome by
Judge Cole. The "deafeniDg applause"
that greeted him was the university
Cheer the same that will any day
greet the simple yeoman who may at
tempt to ride dilapidated mule across
the University grounds.
They then took their place on nicely
carpeted platform in the rotunda, where
the audience filed past and gazed
through their many colored glasses
Some saw their beau ideal of human
greatness; others an ordinary man;
while still others thought he failed to
reach the average standard.
OF his wife there were no words
spoken except in praise, though the
verdict was unanimous that in the mat
ter of matrimonial selection she ex-
hibitcd far less taste than he did.
The President did not shake the hands
of all, for be has learned on this trip
that Misunderstanding, well followed, is
hard work. In fact, he is learning eau
ton, for at one place where an enthusi-
astic magenta-headed female rushed up
to kiss him, he gently refused to grant
the privilege, as he doubtless remem-
bered that in the last campaign he was
mildly censured for having. in an I'M
guarded moment. permitted the widow
Halpin to take liberties with him.
The show over, the party repaired to
the residence of the Postmaster General,
while large portion of the audience
set out TO borrow money enough to take
them home, as their return tickets were
generally in the pocketbooks which had
been transferred TO the Anti-Pcyerty
party.
From here the party went first to
Minneapolis, where the President wished
to investigate the story of the citizens
having rejected the New Testament
for making such frequent mention of
St. Paul and entirely ignoring Mime
apolis.
From there be goes to Sioux City to
offer thanks in the Corn temple for the
bountiful yield of corn, as that will
insure an abundance of Democratic in
spiration for the next campaign.
Thence he goes south that he may
be greeted by that rebel yell which 50
interested him in the time OF the war
that he hired substitute to go down
and listen to it in his stead.
But, throwing all levity aside, this
junketing tour, though no doubt under
taken for political effect, has success
fully demonstrated the abiding rever-
ence of the average citizen for the in
stitutions Of his country, especially the
high Office of President. While he may
differ in politics and sentiment from the
occupant of the presidential chair, and
claim the right to scan and criticize his
official acts, he still retains his love for
the high position he occupies to such
I - 4. 4. Al.